Marks and Spencer in Gran Canaria , Canary Islands

The outlook continues to remain bright in Gran Canaria with inward investment in the tourism facilities of the Island by the local town halls and Cabildo, along with outside investment coming from major UK companies such as Marks and Spencer.
Marks and Spencer continues to bring a little bit of home to Gran Canaria with the opening of another store on the island.

MandS now have over 500 stores in the U.K and 240 World wide. They also have stores franchised in 34 countries, in Spain there are 5 stores these are located 1 in Tenerife, and 4 in Gran Canaria the latest has been opened recently in Vecindario.

The store is situated behind the Atlantico shopping centre close to the GC1 in Vecindario so there is easy access off the motorway with an abundance of parking in the shopping centre car park or there is parking close to the store. Vecindario is the most cosmopolitan town in the area of Santa Lucia and close to the airport.Once surviving on agriculture alone (the area is one of Gran Canaria's most prolific for growing tomatoes), it is the industrial centre of the island.Her two commercial centres, La Ciel and Atlantico between them contain around 200 different stores and 17 cinemas and the Avenida de Canarias is lined with shops and other businesses.
Address:Taoro, 11 Esq Victor Jara Vecindario

Marks and Spencer’s History
1884: Michael Marks, a Russian born Polish refugee opened a stall at Leeds Kirkgate Market.

1894: Michael Marks formed a partnership with Tom Spencer a former cashier from the wholesale company IJ Dewhirst.

1901: A new warehouse and head office opened at Derby Street, Manchester. It was the first property that was built to their specifications.

1904: Acquired premises for a shop at the Cross Arcade in Leeds. This was a prestigious site and marked the transition from market stall to a covered arcade.

1905: Tom Spencer died on 25 July.

1907: Michael Marks died on 31 December.

1928: The St Michael trademark was registered.

1956-1979: The first stores in Continental Europe opened in Paris and Brussels. They now have over 500 stores in the U.K and 240 World wide. They also have stores franchised in 34 countries, in Spain there are 5 stores these are located 1 in Tenerife, and 4 in Gran Canaria the latest has been opened recently in Vecindario.

For best winter sun and essential value for money when Buying or Holidaying, visit the Canary Islands!

Brand new research from the Journal of the American Heart Association reveals that vitamin D is critical in offering us protection against all sorts of serious illnesses and conditions such as strokes and heart failure, and that vitamin D also plays a vital role in supporting bone strength.
The findings of the research, which took five years to complete, have been published along with evidence that only around 10% of us ever has high enough levels of vitamin D in our bodies because we lack exposure to the one source guaranteed to top us up, namely the sun.
And how well timed is the publication of these findings? After all, in January we are more likely to be suffering from winter blues and post- Christmas depression than basking in sunshine and soaking up our daily dosage of essential vitamin D...which is where the topic of winter sun holidays certainly comes in!
In a recent article in the Guardian newspaper, a reporter cites ABTA, (the Association of British Travel Agents), as saying that because summer 2007 in the UK was such a washout, the 2007/08 winter sun season is going to be busier than ever with record numbers of Brits having booked to go abroad in search of the warm rays of the sun.
If you're one of the estimated 3.5 million Britons heading off in search of winter sunshine this season, which are the destinations that you should be focused on for guaranteed vitamin D levels, excellent affordability, ease of accessibility and a great holiday to boot?
Well, according to the Telegraph, ABTA and the Times newspaper, the number one location you should be considering in 2008 is the Canary Islands.
The Canary Islands an archipelago that make up part of the Kingdom of Spain. They are a dramatically beautiful group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean that enjoy year round temperate conditions making them ideal for winter sun, and also summer sunshine holidays.
Accessible from the UK in around 3.5 hours and serviced year round by a host of cheap flight operators such as Jet2fly, EasyJet and Ryan Air which has flights currently starting at only one penny and averaging GBP 49.99, the Canary Islands are a favorite with sun seekers and a favorite with travel correspondents from leading British newspapers this season it seems.
Interestingly enough, 2007 was a poor year for the Canary Islands – in terms of tourism arrivals.
Tourism arrivals declined to 7 million between January and October 2007 with predictions at the start of the year estimating arrivals during this period at around 7.25 million
According to Martin Dell, the managing director of the Spanish property portal Kyero.com, the Canary Islands now offer so much more in the way of value for money for would-be Spanish home seekers. For average property prices still remain 15% below the national average in Spain.”
The news about the tourism decline in 2007 caused something of a knee jerk reaction or perhaps an awakening in Spain, and in Particular within the Canary Island government and main Toursuim office and now a huge investment and a concerted drive has been made to once again promote the attraction of the Canary Islands which is why so many British journalists are now once again revisiting the delights of the archipelago and passing on their positive findings to their readership.
The islands derive almost a third of their entire GDP from the tourism industry and a further 20% from construction – so you can see how essential their travel and property markets are. Good news for the consumer going in to 2008 then – because the government and private sector are both behind a significant push to once again promote the delights of the islands.
What this means for the likes of you and me is that if we're looking for cut price holidays and reduced price Spanish property in 2008, along with our winter sunshine and our vitamin D fixes, the Canary Islands are the destination of choice. And offering a one stop shop for tourism and long term rental property as well as property for sale in the Canary Islands is the the well known wdsites of GoldAcre Estates.com and www.goldacreestatesgrancanaria.com for rentals visit www.buyinfuerteventura.com, www.buyingrancanaria.com and www.roomtobreathesl.com making it much easier for you to find a vacation home for a property inspection trip and a healthy dose of vitamin D, locate properties you might like to buy and arrange for a longer term rental home for you to move into whilst you wait for the completion of your property purchase to go through!
In terms of which Canary Island to choose from, well, you can select from Fuertaventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera or Lanzarote for example - each island is popular and each is also distinctly different from the next and offers an entirely different travel experience.
For example – Fuerteventura is the least well known and also the second largest of the islands. It has the best beaches in the whole of the Canary Islands with some 167km of Golden sands that stretch as far as the eye can see the airport is in the centre of the island making all destination accessable it has one of the best climate and is underdeveloped with an excellent array of amenities and facilities to keep the entire family happy on holiday. This island is very best for holiday home buyers too, and as prices are so far below the national average you can snap up your own Spanish property bargain.
For nature lovers and those who holiday in search of tranquillity, you might be recommended to try La Gomera, and if you're interested in discovering a miniature continent, try Gran Canaria – home to more landscape and climate varieties than all the other islands put together.
As you can see, the Canary Islands offer more than mere winter sun appeal and essential vitamin D doses – they offer a diversity of geography and climate, a short haul, affordable and accessible year round sunshine destination, and a location which now offers would-be buyers better value for money.
2008 is likely to be a very good year for the Canary Islands
Source European Homes

The Guiniguada Project , Las Palmas

The Guiniguada project is a plan to link the historic areas of Triana and Vegueta and then rejoin this area of Las Palmas to the sea.

Before the building of the main road that separates Triana and Vegueta, the barranco (dry river bed) that runs from the centre of the island to the sea, it was crossed by a series of bridges (see picture) . The area was a favourite with walkers, meeting friends and even for lovers.

They plan to restore old bridges over the lower part of the dry river bed a long with two of its historic bridges Piedra (picture) and Puente de Palo, (Stick Bridge).
Triana and Vegueta are separated from the sea by Maritime Avenue a 6 lane highway, this will be sunk into a half kilometre tunnel, Then some land will be reclaimed from the sea, This will create a large public park and promenade of almost 3 hectacres by the sea, which will have, grass, plants, trees,a water feature and places to sit or just amble away the time, and even a cycle way. This area will be large enough to hold festivals as well.
Las Palmas is not the first City to rebuild or replace lost features, but like other city’s they are doing something about it.
So come and visit GoldAcre Estates to speak to our consultants on how 2008 can be your year to buy your dream home in Gran Canaria.

Gran Canaria a continent in miniature

Gran Canaria a continent in miniature offers many micro climates and some of the best air quality in the world today, this Island which is part of Spain, but set some 1,200 kilometers and 2.5 hours flying time from mainland in the mid Atlantic, offering one of the best all round climates with hours of glorious winter sunshine, diverse sports such as Golf, Wind surfing, Sailing, Mountain Walking and much much, more.
Perfect for buying Land or Real Estate, with opportunities for Beach front villas and apartments at very reasonable prices.

Low cost of living and special Tax exception from the European Parliament has made the Canary Islands and in particular Gran Canaria a favorite because of its duty free tax base and more and more overseas companies are finding out that the special ZEC zone that we are classed as, can be very beneficial to their overall growth

Investment in Gran Canaria’s real estate market has shown stable and long term growth opportunities which have been consistent over many years, view our continent in miniature and see why Gran Canaria has become the first choice of many European nationalities for their holiday, second or permanent home overseas.

HAVE A LOOK TO THE PPT ATTACHED

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Gran Canaria real estate why rent when you can buy

Gran Canaria, with its population of more than 800,000, is the most densely populated of the islands in the archipelago. It is also an island rich in culture, folklore and history, that can boast about having “probably the best climate in the world” (World Health Organisation report 2001).

The vibrant, cosmopolitan capital of Las Palmas is located in the north east tip of the island and can boast important educational, recreational and financial centres as well as a harbour that is large enough to play host to the world’s largest ever passenger vessel, the Queen Mary 2.

Las Palmas can also boast the first golf course opened in Spain, and along with several other championship golf facilities, has made the game one of the many attractions to this all year round sports paradise.

Tourism, along with agriculture and fishing, forms a major part of the thriving economy. Based in the south of the island, tourism dominates the area between San Agustin and Playa de Mogan. Its many varied resorts offer every kind of attraction, including miles of dramatic sand dunes plus many natural and man made beaches that are surrounded by the world’s finest hotels, restaurants and shopping and leisure facilities. These are facilities that offer everything from Four Basilicas to Four Tops, Bizet to Bingo and Lalique to La Belle.

However, just a few kilometres inland and you will discover another world of delights; the best Canarian food in “El Centro” Guayadeque, folklore in Arucas and Aguimes, the architecture of Teror and the mountain walks of Los Nieves and Cruz Grande, to name but a few. It is no wonder that our island is one of the foremost destinations on the world tourist map by virtue of its clean air climate, stunning facilities and for the lifestyle and business opportunities that it provides.

Its wonderful amenities are legendary, but coupled with the staggering natural geographical beauty and radiance, it is little wonder that the island is the main destination for over 3 million holidaymakers a year, many of whom return year after year and eventually make their homes here in Gran Canaria

Seniors Money Clinics on Gran Canaria

Early January of this year, Blevins Franks International, held a second group of clinic sessions for interested persons on Gran Canaria. The result was another significant number of appointments and, as a representative of Goldacre Estates, another particularly happy client.

The conditions and requirements of “Seniors Money” – the releasing of equity in your property for the over 60’s – were very ably detailed by the Blevins Franks representative, Richard Smith. There are several potential reasons for wanting to do this, all of which are eligible in this scheme. You may wish to supplement a shortfall in income, or to carry out home improvements, you may need medical care, or you may want to take that holiday of a lifetime or indeed you may simply wish to help your family or dependants now.

The Seniors Money Lifetime Loan is designed to help people increase their income in retirement to do any of these things, and once one partner reaches the age of 60, you and your property may well meet the criteria for this loan. The loan is based on percentages of the property value with a minimum loan of 40,000 euros. This loan is not repaid until you sell the property, or until both partners have moved on to higher places, and…. you can top up the loan each year.

For more information contact Emma Cunliffe on
emmac@goldacre-estates.com

Announcement from the British Club in Las Palmas. Freemasonry is relatively new to the Canary Islands, but is growing steadily.

“The Provincial Grand Lodge of the Canary Islands

The Provincial Grand Masonic Lodge of the Canary Islands is very pleased to invite all English speaking Freemasons, or English speaking men wishing to become Freemasons, who are residents of Gran Canaria, to become part of a new Lodge being constituted on this island.”

If you are a Freemason or wish to become one, and have a sincere interest in this matter, please contact info@goldacre-estates.com for full details.